How A Workation Could Be Good For Your Team

As the term might imply, a “workation” is a combination of work and vacation. Small business owners and self-described “digital nomads” have done this for years, working whatever hours they set while enjoying the sights and smells of the exotic locale they have moved to. Now some businesses are interested in a team workation, where […]

As the term might imply, a “workation” is a
combination of work and vacation. Small business owners and self-described
“digital nomads” have done this for years, working whatever hours they set
while enjoying the sights and smells of the exotic locale they have moved to. Now
some businesses are interested in a team workation, where a team retreats to a
vacation spot and combines work and vacation together.

This may sound like a terrible idea at
first, as Fast
Company calls such retreats “a grown up version of the summer camp.”
And a team workation can combine the
worst aspects of traveling abroad and working if done improperly.

But when done properly, a workation can be
a fantastic team-building exercise with clear positive effects on team morale
and productivity. Here are some of the benefits of a team workation, and how to
manage it to get the best results.

New
Environment, New Results

There is a comfort to routine, but a new
working environment can create a spark for new and unique ideas. We value
diversity in the workplace because different perspectives can come up with
different solutions to the same problem, and moving to a new working
environment is an extension of that logic.

Of course, this means that you must make
sure that workers can set up in this new environment with minimum hassle. Consider
contacting a workation program such as these
listed by CNN. Make sure that your vacation spot is quiet, has plenty of
working space, and has reliable internet. Read online reviews of workation
spots, and see if there are nearby coffee shops or libraries that can serve as
a backup working spot or a nice change of pace.

Team
Building and Motivation

There is nothing wrong with wanting to keep
your work and social circles separate. But employee morale and productivity
rise when they work alongside people they genuinely like. And there is no team
building exercise like seeing new, exotic places together and working alongside
one another without close supervision in a new environment.

However, you will not improve employee
morale and team cohesion if they are completely unwilling to go on a workation.
Pick your employees who will go on such a trip wisely without the need for an employment lawyer.
Ideally, they should have some history together and can be trusted with little
supervision. Make workations into a privilege and not a replacement for actual
vacations, and you will create a real incentive for team members to work
together and better.

Manage
Expectations

The key difference between going on a
workation and being asked to work while on a regular vacation are the different
expectations. Before going on a workation, it is critical to make clear to the
team that a workation involves work as well as vacation. You should ideally
plan ahead and dictate which hours your team will be working, and which hours
your team will have time for themselves. Aim to get your work done
in the morning so that you do not have the burden of work hanging
over your vacation time. And once you have set a schedule which balances work
and vacation, make sure to rigidly stick to it and avoid overworking.

Make
a Goal

A great time to have a workation is when
you have a medium-sized, important project which will need a few days to a week
to complete. Having a clear goal lets everyone rally around the task and know
what they are supposed to do. You can also offer a further incentive that if
they work hard and finish the project early, they will have more time to
explore the streets of Paris or the mysteries of Thailand.
A well
run workation can both recharge your team and get work done at the same time,
and shows that hours put into work matter less than what is put in over said
hours. Find a destination that interests your team, and consider talking to
them about a trip abroad.

A digital nomad and an internet entrepreneur with a thirst for food and travel.

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“People look for retreats for themselves, in the country, by the coast, or in the hills . . . There is nowhere that a person can find a more peaceful and trouble-free retreat than in his own mind. . . . So constantly give yourself this retreat, and renew yourself.”